Bunting is set to make a dramatic return to Petersfield less than a year after it was axed by town councillors.

The news that the traditional street decoration could return to the town will come as welcome news to organisers of fetes and civic occasions across the town.

Bunting has been in short supply in Petersfield recently after it was revealed that five bags of old naval flags, that had been lent out free of charge by jewellers Pickets and Pursers, have gone missing.

Owner Chris Pickett has appealed for the safe return of the street decorations.

Last summer, town councillors cut bunting from their budget saying that it was no longer financially viable. They told the town that it would have to make do with balloons instead.

The shock decision caused quite a stir and dismayed

the then chairman of PetersfieldÕs jubilee committee, Paul Malloy.

Mr Malloy, now a town councillor, said at the time: ÒJust locate some of those old photographs of past celebrations with towns the length and breadth of the land always managing to hang bunting, even through the desperate days of the 30s depression and the debilitating six years of the 39-45 war.Ó

The town council had said that Òfancy varietiesÓ of bunting were too expensive.

Mr Molloy agreed that good quality bunting was expensive but added: ÒCompared to the largesse with which huge expense has, and continues to be, lavished elsewhere Ð the town hall and Festival Hall to name but two, it is a paltry sum indeed.Ó

Now town mayor, George Watkinson, who was chairman of the committee that axed bunting last year, wants to resurrect it.

He told a meeting of the councilÕs finance and general purposes committee: ÒOn two or three of the mayorÕs visits people said it would be nice to have some bunting.Ó

The committee agreed to look at purchasing bunting as part of their upcoming budget discussions.